Sometimes you really do get what you pay for. I have now taken 2 4-day boat trips on this continent the 2nd cost about 3.5x what the first did, but it was at least that much better. Of course this is a very good thing, since it was much colder where I was traveling this time, so the same conditions as the first boat may have been fairly dangerous.
On this trip I took the Navimag´s Puerto Eden from Puerto Natales to Puerto Montt (both are towns in Chile). It was supposed to leave on Friday morning (the 30th) but due to bad weather was delayed a day. This was excellent news to me as boarding was the night before the departue and if I had to board on the 29th then I would have only had 4 hours to get back from the park, get clean and get on the boat -- so for me the delay was perfect.
Keeping in mind that my ticket for this boat was the cheapest I could buy -- you know -- cattle class -- when I was loaded in with all the other people in ´C´class on to a cargo elevator designed for 18 wheelers and we could hear and smell cows above us we were a little concerned.
However after the evelvator was raised and we were directed to our cabins we discovered that the accomodations were actually quite nice. I was in a room with 4 beds (2 bunks), but only 2 other people (Sarah and Oli) -- so we had an extra bed. we only had small lockers -- but they held valubles and really who wants to steal all our big stuff that has little value. There was an info session the first night and then some time to meet people and walk around the ship. I discovered that the bathrooms had separate showers and toilets -- yea. There was a dining area and a common room with couches. We were also allowed onto the bridge and could talk to the captian during the daylight hours. So for a cargo ship converted to boat able to carry passengers it was quite nice.
On the first morning we left the harbour very early in order to make it through the narrowest channel we would have to go through on the whole trip nice and early, while with full light. The White Pass cannot be navigated at night as it is only 80 meters wide and only 1 ship is allowed into the pass at a time. The morning was beautiful, we saw a wonderful sunrise,
On this trip I took the Navimag´s Puerto Eden from Puerto Natales to Puerto Montt (both are towns in Chile). It was supposed to leave on Friday morning (the 30th) but due to bad weather was delayed a day. This was excellent news to me as boarding was the night before the departue and if I had to board on the 29th then I would have only had 4 hours to get back from the park, get clean and get on the boat -- so for me the delay was perfect.Keeping in mind that my ticket for this boat was the cheapest I could buy -- you know -- cattle class -- when I was loaded in with all the other people in ´C´class on to a cargo elevator designed for 18 wheelers and we could hear and smell cows above us we were a little concerned.
However after the evelvator was raised and we were directed to our cabins we discovered that the accomodations were actually quite nice. I was in a room with 4 beds (2 bunks), but only 2 other people (Sarah and Oli) -- so we had an extra bed. we only had small lockers -- but they held valubles and really who wants to steal all our big stuff that has little value. There was an info session the first night and then some time to meet people and walk around the ship. I discovered that the bathrooms had separate showers and toilets -- yea. There was a dining area and a common room with couches. We were also allowed onto the bridge and could talk to the captian during the daylight hours. So for a cargo ship converted to boat able to carry passengers it was quite nice.On the first morning we left the harbour very early in order to make it through the narrowest channel we would have to go through on the whole trip nice and early, while with full light. The White Pass cannot be navigated at night as it is only 80 meters wide and only 1 ship is allowed into the pass at a time. The morning was beautiful, we saw a wonderful sunrise,
but that weather was not destined to last as we sailed right into a bank of clouds and fog that we did not exit again until the last day. Oh well. At least there were movies, games, cards, wine and meals to keep us entertained -- I met lots of people -- which is always good. The food was great. Breakfast was huge eggs, ham, cheese, cereal, yogurt, fruit, brownies, etc.. Lunch and dinner were also really nice and different every meal which was nice. In the rain and fog we did get to almost see a glacier, but really what we saw was the sea full of ice -- which was neat.
We also go off one morning at Puerto Eden a really small town that reminded me of a port version of the tiny mountain town I lived in in Costa Rice -- very cute -- with lots of pretty flowers. 
On the last day when the weather was nice so we were able to spend more time on deck and I saw some seals and some blue whales. Now of course it is important to mention that seeing blue whales is not like seeing orcas or rights or humpbacks. Seeing blues simply means you see them blow and then then you see their backs -- nothing else, they are simply too big to start breaching and otherwise performing. But it was still cool to see them. The seals were fun to watch too -- but I did not get any photos, they were too far and their behaviour to sporatic to get photos of. I did get some photos of the pretty sky that evening though.
On our last night we had a party, with particually bad music -- but that was ok, then one last night on the ship before disembarking in Puerto Montt. There I bought a bus ticket right away as I had heard there was nothing to do there. However after wandering around I discovered a mall, with a movie theatre (this was shocking!) so I wandered around it with my mouth agape and then went back to the station and told Sarah and Oli about it, and we went back together -- We got yogenfutz (sp?) yummmmmm I haven´t had that in ages.
We also go off one morning at Puerto Eden a really small town that reminded me of a port version of the tiny mountain town I lived in in Costa Rice -- very cute -- with lots of pretty flowers. On the last day when the weather was nice so we were able to spend more time on deck and I saw some seals and some blue whales. Now of course it is important to mention that seeing blue whales is not like seeing orcas or rights or humpbacks. Seeing blues simply means you see them blow and then then you see their backs -- nothing else, they are simply too big to start breaching and otherwise performing. But it was still cool to see them. The seals were fun to watch too -- but I did not get any photos, they were too far and their behaviour to sporatic to get photos of. I did get some photos of the pretty sky that evening though.On our last night we had a party, with particually bad music -- but that was ok, then one last night on the ship before disembarking in Puerto Montt. There I bought a bus ticket right away as I had heard there was nothing to do there. However after wandering around I discovered a mall, with a movie theatre (this was shocking!) so I wandered around it with my mouth agape and then went back to the station and told Sarah and Oli about it, and we went back together -- We got yogenfutz (sp?) yummmmmm I haven´t had that in ages. 
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